Nucleic acid encoding a plant very long chain fatty acid biosynthetic enzyme

ABSTRACT

A genomic DNA sequence encoding a condensing enzyme involved in very long chain fatty acid production in plants is provided. Applications for the isolated nucleic acid sequence to include the expression of the condensing enzyme of the present invention in seeds, which would allow the production of crop plants, which are capable of synthesizing hydroxylated very long chain fatty acids in seed oil for industrial applications.

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/206,789, which was filed May 24, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to the isolation of a genomic DNA sequence encoding a condensing enzyme involved in very long chain fatty acid production in plants and its uses.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Living organisms synthesize a vast array of different fatty acids which are incorporated into complex lipids. These complex lipids represent both major structural component membranes, and are a major storage product in both plants and animals. Very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs, chain length C20 or longer) are synthesized in the epidermal cells where they are either directly incorporated into waxes, or serve as precursors for other aliphatic hydrocarbons found in waxes, including alkanes, primary and secondary alcohols, ketones aldehydes and acyl-esters. VLCFAs also accumulate in the seed oil of some plant species, where they are incorporated into triacylglycerols (TAGs), as in the Brassicaceae, or into wax esters, as in jojoba. These seed VLCFAs include the agronomically important erucic acid (C22:1), used in the production of lubricants, nylon, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and plasticizers.

[0004] VLCFAs are synthesized by a microsomal fatty acid elongation (FAE) system which involves four enzymatic reactions: (1) condensation of malonyl-CoA with a long chain acyl-CoA, (2) reduction to -hydroxyacyl-CoA, (3) dehydration to an enoyl-CoA and (4) reduction of the enoyl-CoA, resulting in the elongated acyl-CoA by two carbons. The condensing enzyme catalyzing reaction (1) is the key activity of the FAE system. It is the rate-limiting enzyme of the VLCFA biosynthetic pathway, which controls the amount of VLCFAs produced. In addition, the condensing enzyme determines the ultimate VLCFA acyl chain length, and thus their use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention consists of a DNA sequence encoding a condensing enzyme involved in VLCFA biosynthesis. Such a DNA fragment is desirable for use in genetic engineering projects aimed at increasing the chain length of fatty acids in seed oils. In addition, expression of this sequence in the epidermis can be used for altering the composition and accumulation of cuticular and epicuticular waxes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 shows DNA sequence of the LfKCS3 genomic clone. The deduced amino acid sequence in shown below the nucleotide sequence of corresponding exons. Intron sequences are shown in bold and italics.

[0007]FIG. 2 shows sequence similarity among the Brassicaceae condensing enzymes along their entire length (FIG. 2).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] The present invention provides an isolated genonic DNA sequence encoding a condensing enzyme involved in very long chain fatty acid production in plants. Because condensing enzymes are pivotal enzymes in the synthesis of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA), controlling levels of accumulation of VLCFAs and their acyl chain length (Millar and Kunst, 1997), are useful for biotechnology. For instance, the accumulation of VLCFAs in tobacco seed expressing FAE1 from Arabidopsis (Millar and Kunst, 1997) indicates that VLCFAs can be produced in plant species that currently do not synthesize VLCFAs. The availability of LfKCS3 condensing enzyme may be especially useful, because it is capable of efficiently elongating hydroxy fatty acids. Thus, the expression of the LfKCS3 condensing enzyme in seeds should allow the production of crop plants capable of synthesizing hydroxylated VLCFAs in seed oil for industrial applications.

[0009] The methods employed in the isolation of the nucleic acid sequence of the present invention and the uses thereof are discussed in the following non-limiting examples:

[0010] Screening of the Genomic DNA Library:

[0011] A Lesquerella fendleri genomic DNA library was obtained from Dr. Chris Somerville of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, Stanford, Calif. The genomic library was plated on E. coli LE392 (Promega) and about 150,000 clones were screened using Arabidopsis FAE1 as a probe. The probe was prepared by PCR using pGEM7-FAE1 (Millar and Kunst, 1997) as a template with FAE1 upstream primer, 5′-CCGAGCTCAAAGAGGATACATAC-3′ and FAE1 downstream primer, 5′-GATACTCGAGAACGTTGGCACTCAGATAC-3′. PCR was performed in a 10 μl reaction containing 10 ng of the template, 2 mM MgCl₂, 1.1 μM of each primer, 100 μM of (dCTP+dGTP+dTTP) mix, 50 μCi of [α-32P]dATP, 1×PCR buffer and 2.5 units of Taq DNA polymerase (Life Technologies). Amplification conditions were: 2 min of initial denaturation at 94° C., 30 cycles of 94° C. for 15 sec, 55° C. for 30 sec, 72° C. for 1 min and 40 sec, followed by a final extension at 72° C. for 7 min. The amplified hot probe was purified by QIAqiuck PCR Purification Kit (Qiagen) and denatured by boiling before adding to the hybridization solution. Hybridization took place overnight at 65° C. in a solution containing 6×SSC (1×SSC=0.15 M NaCl, 0.015 M Na-citrate, pH 7.0), 20 mM NaH₂PO₄. 0.4% SDS, 5×Denhardt's solution [0.1% (w/v) of Ficoll (Type 400, Pharmacia), 0.1% (w/v) of polyvinylpyrrolidone, and 0.1% (w/v) of bovine serum albumin (Fraction V, Sigma)], and 50 μg/ml sonicated, denatured salmon sperm DNA (Sigma) and washing was performed three times for 20 min each in 2×SSC, 0.5% (w/v) SDS at 65° C.

[0012] Construction of Plasmids (Refer to Table 1):

[0013] From tertiary screening, nine positive clones were purified from the Lesquerella fendleri genomic library. The phage DNA from those nine clones was extracted and purified using QIAGEN Lambda Mini Kit (Qiagen) according to the manufacturer's protocol. One of them was digested with EcoRI and a 4.3 kb fragment was subcloned into the pGEM-7Zf(+) vector (Promega) cut with EcoRI, resulting in the vector pMHS15. The whole insert was sequenced with ABI automatic 373 DNA sequencer using fluorescent dye terminators. The upstream region of the genomic DNA was amplified using the high fidelity Pfu polymerase (Stratagene) with a forward primer 5′-CGCAAGCTTGAATTCGGAAATGGGCCAAGT3′ and a reverse primer 5′-CGCGTCGACTGTTTTGAGTTTGTGTCGGG-3′. The amplified 573 bp promoter was inserted upstream of the GUS gene in pBI101 (Clontech) cut with HindIII and SalI, resulting in the vector pLfKCS3-GUS. The fragment containing the promoter and the coding sequence was removed from pMHS15 by digestion with EcoRI and HpaI and the insert fragment was ligated to pRD400 cut with EcoRI and SmaI, resulting in the vector pLfKCS3. As a comparison, another construct was made with LFAH12 promoter (Broun et al., 1998) and the coding sequence, which was named pLFAH12-LfKCS3. TABLE 1 Plasmids Name Promoter Coding sequence(s) pMHS15 4313 bp EcoRI fragment in pGEM-7Zf(+) pLfKCS3-GUS LfKCS3 (573 bp) β-glucuronidase pLfKCS3 LfKCS3 (573 bp) LfKCS3 ORF (2062 bp) P1FAH12-LfKCS3 LFAH12 (2200 bp) LfKCS3 ORF (2062 bp)

[0014] All the plasmids shown in Table 1, pLfKCS3-GUS, pLfKCS3, and pLFAH12-LfKCS3, were introduced into Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain GV3101 (pMP90; Koncz and Schell, 1986) by heat-shock and selected for resistance to kanamycin (50 μg/mL). They were then used to tansform Arabidopsis (Columbia wild type) and/or fad2/fae1 double mutant by floral dip method (Clough and Bent, 1998). The fad2/fae1 double mutant is characterized by a very high level (>80%) of oleic acid (18:1) in its seed oil due to deficiency in the activities of both cytoplasmic oleate Δ12 desaturase and the condensing enzyme, FAE1. Screening for transformed seed was done on 50 μg/mL kanamycin as described previously (Katavic et al., 1994).

[0015] Analysis of Fatty Acid Composition:

[0016] To determine the fatty acid composition of the tissues, fatty acid methyl esters were prepared by refluxing the samples in 2 ml of 1N methanolic-HCl for 90 min at 80° C. After cooling 2 ml of 0.9% NaCl solution and 200 μl of hexane were added and the mixture was vortexed vigorously. The fatty acid methyl esters in the hexane layer were analyzed by gas chromatography.

[0017] GUS Assay:

[0018] GUS assay was performed by immersing tissues in GUS histochemical staining solution (Jefferson, 1989) for 4 to 7 hours at 37° C. The assay solution was composed of 50 mM sodium phosphate, pH 7.0, 0.5 mM potassium ferricyanide, 0.5 mM potassium ferrocyanide, 10 mM EDTA, 0.05%(w/v) triton X-100, and 0.35 mg/ml 5-bromo-4chloro-3-indolyl-β-D-glucuronide (X-Gluc). Following staining the blue-stained samples were fixed in 70% ethanol.

[0019] Isolation and Characteristics of the LfKCS3 Gene:

[0020] A genomic clone of a putative condensing enzyme was isolated using the Arabidopsis FAE1 (James et al., 1995) to probe filters of a genomic library of Lesquerella fendleri. The EcoRI fragment subcloned into the plasmid pMHS15 was fully sequenced and a 4313 bp consensus sequence was assembled from individual sequence fragments using GCG program (Edelman et al., 1994). The sequence included 573 bp of 5′ flaking region, a 2062 bp coding region, and an 1678 bp 3′ flanking sequence (FIG. 1). A sequence comparison between the 4313 bp genomic DNA and the Arabidopsis cDNA made using the BCM Search Launcher: Multiple Sequence Alignments (Smith et al., 1996) revealed two introns in the L. fendleri genomic DNA. Then the deduced amino acid sequence was obtained after removing the two introns by aid of a translation tool, “Translate” (http://www.expasy.ch/tools/dna.html). The amino acid sequence indicates that the gene, designated LfKCS3, encodes a polypeptide of 496 amino acids, and an estimated molecular mass of the LfKCS3 protein is 55.3 kD. Amino acid sequence comparisons, using the BCM Search Launcher: Pairwise Sequence Alignments (Smith et al., 1996), show that LfKCS3 shares high sequence identity, ranging from 49.9% to 80.2%, with VLCFA condensing enzymes, including Arabidopsis FAE1 (James et al., 1995), Brassica napus KCS (Roscoe et al., 1996: GenBank accession number U50771), CUT1 (Miller et al.; 1999), and jojoba KCS (Lassner et al., 1996). Multiple sequence alignments reveal remarkable similarity among the Brassicaceae condensing enzymes along their entire length (FIG. 2).

[0021] Expression Studies of LfKCS3 in Plants:

[0022] In order to determine the LfKCS3 expression pattern a 573 bp upstream fragment from the LfKCS3 genomic clone was translationally fused to the uidA reporter gene encoding β-glucuronidase (GUS), and introduced into Arabidopsis by floral dip method (Clough and Bent, 1998). LfKCS3 expression pattern was determined for more than 30 independent primary transgenic plants using GUS histochemical assays on leaves, stems, inflorescences, roots, and siliques at different stages of development. GUS staining was observed exclusively in the embryos. No GUS expression was detected in other tissues. Thus, the Arabidopsis LfKCS3 promoter is regulated in a tissue specific manner.

References

[0023] Clough, S. J. and Bent, A. F. (1998) Floral dip: a simplified method for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Arabdiopsis thaliana. Plant J. 16, 735-743.

[0024] Broun, P., Boddupanli, S., and Somerville, C. (1998) A bifunctional oleate 12-hydroxylase:desaturase from Lesquerella fendleri. Plant J. 13, 201-210

[0025] Doyle, J. J., and Doyle, J. L. (1990) Isolation of plant DNA from fresh tissue. Focus 12, 13-15

[0026] Edelman, L, Olson, D., and Devereux, J. (1994) Wisconsin Sequence Analysis Package, version 8.0, Genetic Computer Group, Inc., University Research Park, 575 Science Drive, Madison, Wis., 53711, USA

[0027] James, D. W., Lim, E., Keller, J., Plooy, I., Ralston, E., and Dooner, H. K. (1995) Directed tagging of the Arabidopsis FATTY ACID ELONGATION1 (FAE1) gene with the maize transposon activator. Plant Cell 7, 309-319

[0028] Jefferson, R. A. (1987) Assaying chimeric genes in plants: The GUS gene fusion system. Plant Mol. Bol. Rep. 5, 387-405

[0029] Katavic, V., Haughn, G. W., Reed, D., Martin, M., and Kunst, L. (1994) In planta transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana Mol.Gen.Genet 245, 363-370.

[0030] Koetsier, P. A., Schorr, J., and Doerfler, W. (1993) A rapid optimized protocol for downward alkaline Southern blotting of DNA. BioTechniques 15, 260-262

[0031] Koncz, C. and Schell, J. (1986) The promoter of T_(L)-DNA gene 5 controls the tissue-specific expression of chimaeric genes carried by a novel type of Agrobacterium binary vector. Mol. Gen. Genet 204, 383-396.

[0032] Lassner, M. W., Lardizabal, K., and Metz, J. G. (1996) A jojoba β-ketoacyl-CoA synthase cDNA complements the canola fatty acid elongation mutation in transgenic plants. Plant Cell 8, 281-292

[0033] Millar, A. A., and Kunst, L. (1997) Very-long-chain fatty acid biosynthesis is controlled through the expression and specificity of the condensing enzyme. Plant J. 12, 121-131

[0034] Millar, A. A., Clemens, S., Zachgo, S., Giblin, E. M., Taylor, D. C., and Kunst, L. (1999) CUT1, an Arabidopsis gene required for cuticular wax biosynthesis and pollen fertility, encodes a very-long-chain fatty acid condensing enzyme. Plant Cell 11, 825-838

[0035] Smith, R. F., Wiese, B. A., Wojzynski, M. K., Davison, D. B., Worley, K. C. (1996) Search-Launcher—An integrated interface to molecular biology database search and analysis services available on the world wide web. Genome Res. 6, 454-462

[0036] van de Loo, F. J., Broun, P., Tumer, S., and Somerville, C. (1995) An oleate 12-hydroxylase from Ricinus communis L. is a fatty acyl desaturase homolog. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92,6743-6747

1 8 1 4313 DNA Lesquerella fendleri CDS (574..1056, 1439..1859, 2049..2632) 1 gaattcggaa atgggccaag tgaaatggaa atagagcttc aatccattta gtcccactca 60 aaatggtgct cgaattatat ttagttacgt tcgaatcaga caaccaagta tttggttaat 120 aaaaaccact cgcaacaaag gaaaaacacc aagcgcgtgc gtccaacatc cgacggaagg 180 ggggtaatgt ggtccgaaaa ccttacaaaa atctgacgtc atctaccccc gaaaacgttg 240 aatcgtcaac gggggtagtt ttcgaattat ctttttttta ggggcagttt tattaatttg 300 ctctagaaat tttatgattt taattaaaaa aagaaaaaga atatttgtat atttattttt 360 tatactcttt ttttgtccaa ctatttctct tattttggca actttaacta gactagtaac 420 ttatgtcaat gtgtatggat gcatgagagt gagtatacac atgtctaaat gcatgcctta 480 tgaaagcaac gcaccacaaa acgaagaccc ctttacaaat acatctcatc ccttagtacc 540 ctcttactac tgtcccgaca caaactcaaa aca atg aca tct cta aac ata aag 594 Met Thr Ser Leu Asn Ile Lys 1 5 ctc ctt tac cat tac atc cta acc aac ctt ttc aac ctc tgt ctc ttc 642 Leu Leu Tyr His Tyr Ile Leu Thr Asn Leu Phe Asn Leu Cys Leu Phe 10 15 20 cct tta aca gca ttt ctc gcc gga aaa gct tct cac tta acc aaa tcc 690 Pro Leu Thr Ala Phe Leu Ala Gly Lys Ala Ser His Leu Thr Lys Ser 25 30 35 gat ctc ctc atg ttc tta tct cat ctc caa gac aat ctt ata act gtc 738 Asp Leu Leu Met Phe Leu Ser His Leu Gln Asp Asn Leu Ile Thr Val 40 45 50 55 att gta ctc ttt act ttc act atc ttc tgt ttg gtt ctt tac att gta 786 Ile Val Leu Phe Thr Phe Thr Ile Phe Cys Leu Val Leu Tyr Ile Val 60 65 70 acc aaa cct aaa cag att tat ctt gtg gat tac tct tgt tac ctt cca 834 Thr Lys Pro Lys Gln Ile Tyr Leu Val Asp Tyr Ser Cys Tyr Leu Pro 75 80 85 cca gat cat ctt aaa gtt agt ata tca agt gtc atg gat att ttc tat 882 Pro Asp His Leu Lys Val Ser Ile Ser Ser Val Met Asp Ile Phe Tyr 90 95 100 gag ttg aga aaa gtt gat cct ttg tgt gag gtg ggt tgt gat gat tct 930 Glu Leu Arg Lys Val Asp Pro Leu Cys Glu Val Gly Cys Asp Asp Ser 105 110 115 tct ctt gag ttt atg agg aag gtt tta gaa cgt tca ggt tta ggt gat 978 Ser Leu Glu Phe Met Arg Lys Val Leu Glu Arg Ser Gly Leu Gly Asp 120 125 130 135 gag act tat gtt cca ctt gga ctc cat caa gtg cca cct caa aag act 1026 Glu Thr Tyr Val Pro Leu Gly Leu His Gln Val Pro Pro Gln Lys Thr 140 145 150 ttt gca gcg ata aag gac gag aca gaa cag gtaactagag ccggttcaat 1076 Phe Ala Ala Ile Lys Asp Glu Thr Glu Gln 155 160 gtttttgcat gctctataga atttttataa taatcaatat aaagaaaatg acatattaat 1136 tgataaaatt gttataaaat aaagttttga tccccttaaa aatctagaag cttataaatt 1196 ttgaaaattt aggtcgaaaa atgtttaata tttataattt tttaaaaaaa attagatgta 1256 aaatgtcgta aaaattgtga tactatagat gaatcgtcta ctttttgaac atgtcctggg 1316 gtgatagaag cggaccaagc ctatgcttgt ggttgttaga ttgtttattc tttttattta 1376 gtttgtatcc tttatttttt ctgtcgcttg tggtcttaaa atgtatagga ccggctctgc 1436 ag gta atc aaa ggt gca ctt gag aat cta ttc gag aac aca aaa gta 1483 Val Ile Lys Gly Ala Leu Glu Asn Leu Phe Glu Asn Thr Lys Val 165 170 175 aac cct aga gag att ggt ata ctt gtg ata aac tca agc atg ttt aat 1531 Asn Pro Arg Glu Ile Gly Ile Leu Val Ile Asn Ser Ser Met Phe Asn 180 185 190 cca aca cct tct cta tca gcc atg gtt att aat act ttc aaa ctc cga 1579 Pro Thr Pro Ser Leu Ser Ala Met Val Ile Asn Thr Phe Lys Leu Arg 195 200 205 agt aac atc aaa agc ttt aat ctt gga gga atg ggt tgt agt gct ggt 1627 Ser Asn Ile Lys Ser Phe Asn Leu Gly Gly Met Gly Cys Ser Ala Gly 210 215 220 gta atc gcc att gat cta gct aaa gac ttg ttg cat gtt cat aaa aac 1675 Val Ile Ala Ile Asp Leu Ala Lys Asp Leu Leu His Val His Lys Asn 225 230 235 240 act tat gct ctt gta ata agc act gag aac atc acc ata acc gct tat 1723 Thr Tyr Ala Leu Val Ile Ser Thr Glu Asn Ile Thr Ile Thr Ala Tyr 245 250 255 gct ggc gaa aat cga tcc atg aat gtt agt aat tgc ttg ttc cga ata 1771 Ala Gly Glu Asn Arg Ser Met Asn Val Ser Asn Cys Leu Phe Arg Ile 260 265 270 ggc ggg gcc gcg att ttg ctc tct aat aag cca aga gat aag aga agg 1819 Gly Gly Ala Ala Ile Leu Leu Ser Asn Lys Pro Arg Asp Lys Arg Arg 275 280 285 tct aag tac aag cta gct cac act gtt cga aca cat aca g 1859 Ser Lys Tyr Lys Leu Ala His Thr Val Arg Thr His Thr 290 295 300 gtattgaatc tagatgatta cattgcgaag aaaatgtttt attcataagc ataaggtgcc 1919 aaataggata caattttgct atcatataat atcgtcatca tatcagaatt atatcgaata 1979 tgatatctta taacatatga ttttctatat gatgtgattc tctaaatctt ctagtatgtt 2039 ctacaacag ga gct gat gac atg tct tat aga tgt gtg caa caa gaa 2086 Gly Ala Asp Asp Met Ser Tyr Arg Cys Val Gln Gln Glu 305 310 gaa gat gag atg ggt aaa gta gga gtt cgt ctc tca aag gac ata act 2134 Glu Asp Glu Met Gly Lys Val Gly Val Arg Leu Ser Lys Asp Ile Thr 315 320 325 330 act gtc gcg ggc aca gca gtt aag aag aac ata tca aca tta ggt cca 2182 Thr Val Ala Gly Thr Ala Val Lys Lys Asn Ile Ser Thr Leu Gly Pro 335 340 345 ctg att ctt cct tta agc gaa aag ctt ctt tat ttc gtt tcc ttc atc 2230 Leu Ile Leu Pro Leu Ser Glu Lys Leu Leu Tyr Phe Val Ser Phe Ile 350 355 360 gcg aag aaa ctt ttg aag gag aag atc aag aac tat tac gtc ccg gat 2278 Ala Lys Lys Leu Leu Lys Glu Lys Ile Lys Asn Tyr Tyr Val Pro Asp 365 370 375 ctt aag cta gct atc aat cat ttt tgt atc cat gct ggt gga aga ggt 2326 Leu Lys Leu Ala Ile Asn His Phe Cys Ile His Ala Gly Gly Arg Gly 380 385 390 gtg tta gat gtg ttg gaa aag aac tta agg cta tca cca att gat gta 2374 Val Leu Asp Val Leu Glu Lys Asn Leu Arg Leu Ser Pro Ile Asp Val 395 400 405 410 gaa gca tct aga tcg act tta cat aga ttt ggg aat act tct tcg agt 2422 Glu Ala Ser Arg Ser Thr Leu His Arg Phe Gly Asn Thr Ser Ser Ser 415 420 425 tcg att tgg tat gag ttg gct tat att gaa gct aaa gga agg atg aag 2470 Ser Ile Trp Tyr Glu Leu Ala Tyr Ile Glu Ala Lys Gly Arg Met Lys 430 435 440 aaa ggt gat aaa gct tgg caa att gct tta ggg tca ggg ttt aag tgt 2518 Lys Gly Asp Lys Ala Trp Gln Ile Ala Leu Gly Ser Gly Phe Lys Cys 445 450 455 aat agt gct gtt tgg gtt gct tta cgt aat gtt aaa gct tcg gct aat 2566 Asn Ser Ala Val Trp Val Ala Leu Arg Asn Val Lys Ala Ser Ala Asn 460 465 470 agt cct tgg gaa cat tgt att gat agg tat cct gtt cct gat act tgt 2614 Ser Pro Trp Glu His Cys Ile Asp Arg Tyr Pro Val Pro Asp Thr Cys 475 480 485 490 gta gaa aat ggt aag tct tagttaatgt atcttagtgt caacgtttct 2662 Val Glu Asn Gly Lys Ser 495 tttttttttt tagttttttt tttgatgttg aagatgttct cttttcgtta taaataagaa 2722 ataaaagttt ttttaggagg actgccattt aagtttacca atcttgtcta tactgccatt 2782 tagcttcagc gtgaacatta atactacgga cggatatgtt ataggcttgt cattgtccgc 2842 gaaaaaagat caatgtactc ctgtgtttac agatatttgc gattgaacct gggtaaacag 2902 tccgttttga ttgttatgga caatcatgta ctacacgcgt tatccgtatt gttcacagaa 2962 gatcaaaaca aaccatttta tccatattaa atcgtaaata tctgtaaaca caaagatacg 3022 cggtctattt cgcagaaagt agcacgcttg atcgaatccg tatatggaaa ttaaaaaacg 3082 tctttgaaaa tatcaatttc ataatttcaa taaagagaag ttaacttaac cggtagtttc 3142 aagaaatttc caatagaaat taaccggcag tcatcatttt tattgggcct tctgtggact 3202 atagaatcag gccctttatt gtaacttgat atagccttta gaatcaggca ggccgtttat 3262 tcataaatcg aaaatcttgg gataattaag aatcaacaac ttggaatcgg gaccagtcgc 3322 agcaaattga tgtcgtaacg tgtcacttgg catgttttag ttaggaccat attcgaaaaa 3382 gtaaatgggt catgttgcca taaaacaaaa aatgctgatt ccaaacgtaa attgctaaac 3442 tcgatgtaat aaaggttaga ttttacgaac ctcaaacccc cattttttta ctttgtttat 3502 ctccaatccc acggtgtaag aacaacaaga acatgatgct ttaaataata gaagacaaac 3562 tcataaaatt gaaataaata gtcatcatac tagcagatta agatccgaat tttacaacca 3622 aaaacaaata aatgcctttt tttttttttt ttaattcgga tcttcttatt catattctta 3682 ttaataattt ttattaaaag atactaagaa atcgtgcaat tacgtttcta cgatgataaa 3742 tcaaacccat cgtcgcagta gtaaaaccca aagttattga tcgcagctga aaagagagtt 3802 actctgtgat gctgcctcag ttgcaagata cggcatgttg tgaaaggaac gatcaagaca 3862 agacacaaca ttgttgatct cgtcttcgtc ttcatcgtca tcgcttttgg tatgcatcaa 3922 ttcatctgct cggtgcttta gagtctcaaa cattagctca ggctcatgct gcattgctcg 3982 aagaacatca gcagaggact gaccaggcat ggctcgggta actgcaaagc tatgtggtcc 4042 atcgctctgc gagacacgga caatgcttgg cccaccaaac aaattatgga ctccaccgag 4102 cgcctcctca taagctcctc caagaaacat tcccagaaag tatcttcctc cgcagttgtc 4162 aatctcgtgc aatggcatgg tggattctcc gcctatgaac ttgttgatct ttccatcgct 4222 atcgcaagtt aaatcagata agatcccacg agttcccggc ctttgatcga gcttatggat 4282 aggaactata ggaaataact gatccgaatt c 4313 2 496 PRT Lesquerella fendleri 2 Met Thr Ser Leu Asn Ile Lys Leu Leu Tyr His Tyr Ile Leu Thr Asn 1 5 10 15 Leu Phe Asn Leu Cys Leu Phe Pro Leu Thr Ala Phe Leu Ala Gly Lys 20 25 30 Ala Ser His Leu Thr Lys Ser Asp Leu Leu Met Phe Leu Ser His Leu 35 40 45 Gln Asp Asn Leu Ile Thr Val Ile Val Leu Phe Thr Phe Thr Ile Phe 50 55 60 Cys Leu Val Leu Tyr Ile Val Thr Lys Pro Lys Gln Ile Tyr Leu Val 65 70 75 80 Asp Tyr Ser Cys Tyr Leu Pro Pro Asp His Leu Lys Val Ser Ile Ser 85 90 95 Ser Val Met Asp Ile Phe Tyr Glu Leu Arg Lys Val Asp Pro Leu Cys 100 105 110 Glu Val Gly Cys Asp Asp Ser Ser Leu Glu Phe Met Arg Lys Val Leu 115 120 125 Glu Arg Ser Gly Leu Gly Asp Glu Thr Tyr Val Pro Leu Gly Leu His 130 135 140 Gln Val Pro Pro Gln Lys Thr Phe Ala Ala Ile Lys Asp Glu Thr Glu 145 150 155 160 Gln Val Ile Lys Gly Ala Leu Glu Asn Leu Phe Glu Asn Thr Lys Val 165 170 175 Asn Pro Arg Glu Ile Gly Ile Leu Val Ile Asn Ser Ser Met Phe Asn 180 185 190 Pro Thr Pro Ser Leu Ser Ala Met Val Ile Asn Thr Phe Lys Leu Arg 195 200 205 Ser Asn Ile Lys Ser Phe Asn Leu Gly Gly Met Gly Cys Ser Ala Gly 210 215 220 Val Ile Ala Ile Asp Leu Ala Lys Asp Leu Leu His Val His Lys Asn 225 230 235 240 Thr Tyr Ala Leu Val Ile Ser Thr Glu Asn Ile Thr Ile Thr Ala Tyr 245 250 255 Ala Gly Glu Asn Arg Ser Met Asn Val Ser Asn Cys Leu Phe Arg Ile 260 265 270 Gly Gly Ala Ala Ile Leu Leu Ser Asn Lys Pro Arg Asp Lys Arg Arg 275 280 285 Ser Lys Tyr Lys Leu Ala His Thr Val Arg Thr His Thr Gly Ala Asp 290 295 300 Asp Met Ser Tyr Arg Cys Val Gln Gln Glu Glu Asp Glu Met Gly Lys 305 310 315 320 Val Gly Val Arg Leu Ser Lys Asp Ile Thr Thr Val Ala Gly Thr Ala 325 330 335 Val Lys Lys Asn Ile Ser Thr Leu Gly Pro Leu Ile Leu Pro Leu Ser 340 345 350 Glu Lys Leu Leu Tyr Phe Val Ser Phe Ile Ala Lys Lys Leu Leu Lys 355 360 365 Glu Lys Ile Lys Asn Tyr Tyr Val Pro Asp Leu Lys Leu Ala Ile Asn 370 375 380 His Phe Cys Ile His Ala Gly Gly Arg Gly Val Leu Asp Val Leu Glu 385 390 395 400 Lys Asn Leu Arg Leu Ser Pro Ile Asp Val Glu Ala Ser Arg Ser Thr 405 410 415 Leu His Arg Phe Gly Asn Thr Ser Ser Ser Ser Ile Trp Tyr Glu Leu 420 425 430 Ala Tyr Ile Glu Ala Lys Gly Arg Met Lys Lys Gly Asp Lys Ala Trp 435 440 445 Gln Ile Ala Leu Gly Ser Gly Phe Lys Cys Asn Ser Ala Val Trp Val 450 455 460 Ala Leu Arg Asn Val Lys Ala Ser Ala Asn Ser Pro Trp Glu His Cys 465 470 475 480 Ile Asp Arg Tyr Pro Val Pro Asp Thr Cys Val Glu Asn Gly Lys Ser 485 490 495 3 23 DNA Artificial Sequence FAE1 Primer 3 ccgagctcaa agaggataca tac 23 4 29 DNA Artificial Sequence FAE1 Primer 4 gatactcgag aacgttggca ctcagatac 29 5 29 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 5 cgcaagcttg aattcggaaa tgggccaag 29 6 29 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 6 cgcgtcgact gttttgagtt tgtgtcggg 29 7 506 PRT Arabidopsis thaliana 7 Met Thr Ser Val Asn Val Lys Leu Leu Tyr Arg Tyr Val Leu Thr Asn 1 5 10 15 Phe Phe Asn Leu Cys Leu Phe Pro Leu Thr Ala Phe Leu Ala Gly Lys 20 25 30 Ala Ser Arg Leu Thr Ile Asn Asp Leu His Asn Phe Leu Ser Tyr Leu 35 40 45 Gln His Asn Leu Ile Thr Val Thr Leu Leu Phe Ala Phe Thr Val Phe 50 55 60 Gly Leu Val Leu Tyr Ile Val Thr Arg Pro Asn Pro Val Tyr Leu Val 65 70 75 80 Asp Tyr Ser Cys Tyr Leu Pro Pro Pro His Leu Lys Val Ser Val Ser 85 90 95 Lys Val Met Asp Ile Phe Tyr Gln Ile Arg Lys Ala Asp Thr Ser Ser 100 105 110 Arg Asn Val Ala Cys Asp Asp Pro Ser Ser Leu Asp Phe Leu Arg Lys 115 120 125 Ile Gln Glu Arg Ser Gly Leu Gly Asp Glu Thr Tyr Ser Pro Glu Gly 130 135 140 Leu Ile His Val Pro Pro Arg Lys Thr Phe Ala Ala Ser Arg Glu Glu 145 150 155 160 Thr Glu Lys Val Ile Ile Gly Ala Leu Glu Asn Leu Phe Glu Asn Thr 165 170 175 Lys Val Asn Pro Arg Glu Ile Gly Ile Leu Val Val Asn Ser Ser Met 180 185 190 Phe Asn Pro Thr Pro Ser Leu Ser Ala Met Val Val Asn Thr Phe Lys 195 200 205 Leu Arg Ser Asn Ile Lys Ser Phe Asn Leu Gly Gly Met Gly Cys Ser 210 215 220 Ala Gly Val Ile Ala Ile Asp Leu Ala Lys Asp Leu Leu His Val His 225 230 235 240 Lys Asn Thr Tyr Ala Leu Val Val Ser Thr Glu Asn Ile Thr Gln Gly 245 250 255 Ile Tyr Ala Gly Glu Asn Arg Ser Met Met Val Ser Asn Cys Leu Phe 260 265 270 Arg Val Gly Gly Ala Ala Ile Leu Leu Ser Asn Lys Ser Gly Asp Arg 275 280 285 Arg Arg Ser Lys Tyr Lys Leu Val His Thr Val Arg Thr His Thr Gly 290 295 300 Ala Asp Asp Lys Ser Phe Arg Cys Val Gln Gln Glu Asp Asp Glu Ser 305 310 315 320 Gly Lys Ile Gly Val Cys Leu Ser Lys Asp Ile Thr Asn Val Ala Gly 325 330 335 Thr Thr Leu Thr Lys Asn Ile Ala Thr Leu Gly Pro Leu Ile Leu Pro 340 345 350 Leu Ser Glu Lys Phe Leu Phe Phe Ala Thr Phe Val Ala Lys Lys Leu 355 360 365 Leu Lys Asp Lys Ile Lys His Tyr Tyr Val Pro Asp Phe Lys Leu Ala 370 375 380 Val Asp His Phe Cys Ile His Ala Gly Gly Arg Ala Val Ile Asp Glu 385 390 395 400 Leu Glu Lys Asn Leu Gly Leu Ser Pro Ile Asp Val Glu Ala Ser Arg 405 410 415 Ser Thr Leu His Arg Phe Gly Asn Thr Ser Ser Ser Ser Ile Trp Tyr 420 425 430 Glu Leu Ala Tyr Ile Glu Ala Lys Gly Arg Met Lys Lys Gly Asn Lys 435 440 445 Ala Trp Gln Ile Ala Leu Gly Ser Gly Phe Lys Cys Asn Ser Ala Val 450 455 460 Trp Val Ala Leu Arg Asn Val Lys Ala Ser Ala Asn Ser Pro Trp Gln 465 470 475 480 His Cys Ile Asp Arg Tyr Pro Val Lys Ile Asp Ser Asp Leu Ser Lys 485 490 495 Ser Lys Thr His Val Gln Asn Gly Arg Ser 500 505 8 505 PRT Brassica napus 8 Met Thr Ser Ile Asn Val Lys Leu Leu Tyr His Tyr Val Ile Thr Asn 1 5 10 15 Leu Phe Asn Leu Cys Phe Phe Pro Leu Thr Ala Ile Val Ala Gly Lys 20 25 30 Ala Tyr Leu Thr Ile Asp Asp Leu His His Leu Tyr Tyr Ser Tyr Leu 35 40 45 Gln His Asn Leu Ile Thr Ile Ala Pro Leu Leu Ala Phe Thr Val Phe 50 55 60 Gly Ser Val Leu Tyr Ile Ala Thr Arg Pro Lys Pro Val Tyr Leu Val 65 70 75 80 Glu Tyr Ser Cys Tyr Leu Pro Pro Thr His Cys Arg Ser Ser Ile Ser 85 90 95 Lys Val Met Asp Ile Phe Phe Gln Val Arg Lys Ala Asp Pro Ser Arg 100 105 110 Asn Gly Thr Cys Asp Asp Ser Ser Trp Leu Asp Phe Leu Arg Lys Ile 115 120 125 Gln Glu Arg Ser Gly Leu Gly Asp Glu Thr His Gly Pro Glu Gly Leu 130 135 140 Leu Gln Val Pro Pro Arg Lys Thr Phe Ala Arg Ala Arg Glu Glu Thr 145 150 155 160 Glu Gln Val Ile Ile Gly Ala Leu Glu Asn Leu Phe Lys Asn Thr Asn 165 170 175 Val Asn Pro Lys Asp Ile Gly Ile Leu Val Val Asn Ser Ser Met Phe 180 185 190 Asn Pro Thr Pro Ser Leu Ser Ala Met Val Val Asn Thr Phe Lys Leu 195 200 205 Arg Ser Asn Val Arg Ser Phe Asn Leu Gly Gly Met Gly Cys Ser Ala 210 215 220 Gly Val Ile Ala Ile Asp Leu Ala Lys Asp Leu Leu His Val His Lys 225 230 235 240 Asn Thr Tyr Ala Leu Val Val Ser Thr Glu Asn Ile Thr Tyr Asn Ile 245 250 255 Tyr Ala Gly Asp Asn Arg Ser Met Met Val Ser Asn Cys Leu Phe Arg 260 265 270 Val Gly Gly Ala Ala Ile Leu Leu Ser Asn Lys Pro Arg Asp Arg Arg 275 280 285 Arg Ser Lys Tyr Glu Leu Val His Thr Val Arg Thr His Thr Gly Ala 290 295 300 Asp Asp Lys Ser Phe Arg Cys Val Gln Gln Gly Asp Asp Glu Asn Gly 305 310 315 320 Gln Thr Gly Val Ser Leu Ser Lys Asp Ile Thr Asp Val Ala Gly Arg 325 330 335 Thr Val Lys Lys Asn Ile Ala Thr Leu Gly Pro Leu Ile Leu Pro Leu 340 345 350 Ser Glu Lys Leu Leu Phe Phe Val Thr Phe Met Gly Lys Lys Leu Phe 355 360 365 Lys Asp Glu Ile Lys His Tyr Tyr Val Pro Asp Phe Lys Leu Ala Ile 370 375 380 Asp His Phe Cys Ile His Ala Gly Gly Lys Ala Val Ile Asp Val Leu 385 390 395 400 Glu Lys Asn Leu Gly Leu Ala Pro Ile Asp Val Glu Ala Ser Arg Ser 405 410 415 Thr Leu His Arg Phe Gly Asn Thr Ser Ser Ser Ser Ile Trp Tyr Glu 420 425 430 Leu Ala Tyr Ile Glu Pro Lys Gly Arg Met Lys Lys Gly Asn Lys Val 435 440 445 Trp Gln Ile Ala Leu Gly Ser Gly Phe Lys Cys Asn Ser Ala Val Trp 450 455 460 Val Ala Leu Asn Asn Val Lys Ala Ser Thr Asn Ser Pro Trp Glu His 465 470 475 480 Cys Ile Asp Arg Tyr Pro Val Lys Ile Asp Ser Asp Ser Gly Lys Ser 485 490 495 Glu Thr Arg Val Pro Asn Gly Arg Ser 500 505 

What we claim is:
 1. An isolated nucleic acid fragment comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a condensing enzyme involved in very long chain fatty acid production in plants.
 2. An isolated nucleic acid fragment according to claim 1, wherein said sequence is defined by the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ. ID. NO.
 1. 3. An isolated nucleic acid fragment according to claim 1, wherein said sequence has a sequence identity of 95% or greater to the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ. ID. NO.
 1. 4. An isolated nucleic acid fragment according to claim 1, wherein said sequence has a sequence identity of 85% or greater to the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ. ID. NO.
 1. 5. An isolated nucleic acid fragment according to claim 1, wherein said sequence has a sequence identity of 65% or greater to the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ. ID. NO.
 1. 6. An isolated nucleic acid fragment comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding an enzyme for enhancing expression of endogenous and foreign genes in seeds for the enhanced production of seed oils.
 7. An isolated nucleic acid fragment according to claim 1, wherein said sequence promotes expression of genes, which enhance seed production of long chain fatty acids in plants
 8. An isolated nucleic acid fragment according to claim 3, wherein said genes enhance the nutritive value of seed production in plants.
 9. An isolated nucleic acid fragment comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a condensing enzyme, which promotes production of very long chain fatty acids production in plants, which naturally do not synthesize very long chain fatty acids. 